88 FOSSIL MAMMALIA. 



on the banks of the Wiluji, nearly entire ; the probability 

 that these animals inhabited the places where their remains 

 are found ; that they were destroyed by the effect of some 

 sudden revolution, or by some change of climate which pre- 

 vented their further propagation. The long and thick fur 

 with which they were clothed seems to prove that they 

 might have inhabited a cold climate, though not one of the 

 present temperature of Siberia. 



This rhinoceros was of a considerably greater size than the 

 two-horned species of Africa. Its head, extremely elongated, 

 seems to have sustained two very long horns, the anterior of 

 which was situated on a vast vault formed by the nasal bones, 

 and consolidated by an osseous, vertical middle partition, which 

 is wanting in the living species. There were no incisors in the 

 jaws ; the hair which covered the body was of a brown colour, 

 and particularly abundant on the limbs ; while the Indian and 

 Cape rhinoceroses are totally deficient of hair in these parts. 

 It would also appear that the head is not only absolutely much 

 larger, but particularly so in proportion to the height of the 

 limbs, and that the general form of the animal was much more 

 low and compact than that of any living species. 



So, then, it was owing to some peasants of Siberia that we 

 happen to know this species of the ancient world, as exactly 

 as we do those of our own times ! With a little more precau- 

 tion, the entire body might have been preserved, as well as the 

 head and feet. Fortunate, however, it is, that the most essen- 

 tial parts of this ancient and singular monument have been 

 saved from destruction. 



The second species is the Baron's rhinoceros leptorhiniLS, 

 called by other naturalists, in honour of its illustrious describer, 

 rhinoceros Cuvierii, Its remains abound most in those parts 

 of Italy above-mentioned. It had two horns on the nose, no 

 incisors, nor were the nostrils partitioned, as in the last species. 

 All these characters are peculiar to the bicorned rhinoceros of 

 Africa. But the nostrils, in proportion, were much more 



